> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://sourcesheets.gitbook.io/sourcesheets-new-seller-blueprint/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://sourcesheets.gitbook.io/sourcesheets-new-seller-blueprint/part-2-laying-the-foundations-admin-done-right/2.2-setting-up-a-limited-company-through-tide.md).

# 2.2 Setting Up a Limited Company Through Tide

Setting up your Limited Company is the first practical step in your journey, and Tide makes it fast, simple, and cheap. Through our partnership, you'll:

* Form your LTD for £14.99
* Receive £20 credit once you spend £100 through Tide (the only spend needed outside using the account as a backup)
* Start your business £5 up
* Get your Companies House registration handled for you
* Automatically receive a basic Tide business account, kept as a backup

Here's the full process, step by step.

## Step 1: Start With the SourceSheets Tide Link

Click the link below. This ensures you receive the discounted company formation fee, the £20 reward, and that we can verify your Milestone.

👉 <https://sourcesheets.co.uk/recommends/tide>

![Tide, Step 1](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b091c046bb48b8c4c0189d5a0d78c2ebfacbe93c%2Ftide-01.png?alt=media)

## Step 2: Choose Your Company Name

On the Tide landing page, you'll see the Company Name Search. Enter the name you want for your new Limited Company.

Your company name does not affect your trading name, your Amazon name, or your brand identity. It's simply your legal business entity registered with Companies House. You can sell under a different name later, and Amazon doesn't require your company name to match your storefront name.

Keep it professional. Names like:

* "Smith Retail Ltd"
* "Silver Oak Trading Ltd"
* "Glenwood Commerce Ltd"
* "Northbridge Goods Ltd"
* "Orchard Direct Ltd"

Avoid risky terms:

* "Amazon," "FBA"
* Brand names (Nike, Lego, etc.)
* Anything misleading ("UK Government Imports Ltd")
* Anything that implies a financial institution or a partnership with large brands

Keep it simple. A clean, neutral business name is ideal.

Enter your chosen name and click Search. Tide checks instantly whether it's available with Companies House. If it's taken, try a small variation: add "Trading," "Commerce," "Stores," or a geographic term like "London" or "Northwood."

![Tide, Step 2](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7e79b9b86107d1163b574643e3cc0156f7e00ba1%2Ftide-02.png?alt=media)

## Step 3: Confirm Your Company Name

Once Tide confirms your name is available, you'll land on a confirmation screen. This means your discount and cashback offer have tracked correctly, and you're ready to begin the real formation steps.

Click Next. There's nothing else to edit on this page, your company name is locked in.

![Tide, Step 3](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-080ed0eb9f13acd574948ccb84c406d234d1dc26%2Ftide-03.jpg?alt=media)

## Step 4: Before You Begin (Intro Screens)

Before Tide moves you into the formation steps, you'll see a few short informational screens covering:

* How Tide submits information to Companies House
* How ClearBank provides the bank account
* What checks are required
* Basic eligibility notes
* How your data is handled

These aren't forms, just notices Tide is legally required to show you. Read through them and click the blue arrow to continue.

In short: Tide partners with ClearBank for your bank account, most LTD applications are approved quickly, some may need extra checks (normal for new LTDs), Tide confirms basic tax details during onboarding, and certain business types (charities, partnerships) aren't eligible. For Amazon FBA sellers, everything here is standard.

![Tide, Step 4](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4ffe6f7a8900f6b0a361670d912825a989bb88c2%2Ftide-04.png?alt=media)

## Step 5: Enter Your Company Contact Details

Tide asks for the email address and phone number to associate with your new company. These will be added to your company's official records, but won't appear on the public register. Only Companies House stores these details, and your incorporation documents will be emailed to this address.

You can use a normal Gmail or Outlook email for now, that's fine for the formation step. Eventually you should set up a business email (something like <orders@yourbrand.co.uk>), since it looks more professional and helps with supplier trust and approvals. SourceSheets will soon offer an in-house solution for business email and domain setup, so for now a personal email is fine; you can update your company contact details later.

Enter your mobile number too. It's used for verification and updates about your incorporation, and it isn't added to the public Companies House register.

![Tide, Step 5](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-540d243a3e6399e34a8719757b8a07906164fc46%2Ftide-05.png?alt=media)

Fill in both fields and click Next.

## Step 6: Verify Your Mobile Number

Tide needs to verify your mobile number before continuing, a standard step for identity protection, Companies House submissions, and fraud prevention.

Check your phone for a text from Tide with a short verification code, enter it, and click Next once the button turns blue.

If the code doesn't arrive, use "Resend code by SMS." If you mistyped your number, click "Change phone number" and re-enter it.

![Tide, Step 6](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4892361f374c1a423fb1555cbf5351b80c17ff7e%2Ftide-06.png?alt=media)

## Step 7: Enter Your Full Legal Name

Tide needs your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport or driving licence. This is passed directly to Companies House and will appear on the public record as part of your director appointment.

You'll see fields for first name, middle name(s), surname, and a checkbox for "I have a former name." Complete these exactly as shown on your ID.

Companies House cross-checks your details during incorporation. Using initials, shortened names, or nicknames can cause delays or failed submissions. If your passport includes middle names, enter them, even if you never use them day to day.

If you've changed your name (marriage, deed poll), tick "I have a former name" and Tide will give you a field to enter it. Most people leave this unticked.

![Tide, Step 7](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-17404642c36ef610232144bf0a9f31aff6ca58d0%2Ftide-07.png?alt=media)

## Step 8: Enter Your Date of Birth

Companies House requires this to appoint you as a director. Only the month and year appear on the public record; your full date of birth is used for identity verification only.

Enter it exactly as shown on your ID, or use the calendar icon to select the date. The Next button activates once it's entered correctly.

![Tide, Step 8](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8ea5ead729c3136d399f7caff5d9df7f841bee96%2Ftide-08.png?alt=media)

## Step 9: Enter Your Personal Address

Tide asks for your home address, starting with your postcode, for identity verification and director registration.

Your residential address does not appear on the public Companies House register. Only your director service address becomes public, and that comes later, with options to change or hide it. This screen is private and used only to confirm your identity and comply with UK KYC regulations.

Enter your postcode, select your address from the lookup, and click Next.

You'll then be asked how long you've lived there. If it's more than 12 months, select that option and click Next, nothing else is required. If it's less than 12 months, select that option and Tide will ask for your previous postcode and house number. This doesn't affect your LTD formation, Companies House simply needs a full 12-month address history.

![Tide, Step 9](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7a9bdd8c4381c2f75a01d1482de7b966109d85c9%2Ftide-09.png?alt=media)

![Tide, Step 9](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0eb51aab85baf287f7946011316594f3f30e75aa%2Ftide-10.png?alt=media)

![Tide, Step 9](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-efc8880ecd728d19640448f09ff82569f1d30112%2Ftide-11.png?alt=media)

## Step 10: Enter Your Country of Residence

This confirms where you currently live, part of the identity verification required by Companies House and UK banking regulations. Most UK-based sellers select United Kingdom, start typing "United" and it appears instantly. If you live abroad, choose the country where you're physically living.

This doesn't become public and doesn't affect your LTD formation unless you're resident in a restricted jurisdiction, which Tide would flag immediately.

![Tide, Step 10](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-43e628b63e96f72338b981cd8560cdf7fb2689a1%2Ftide-12.png?alt=media)

## Step 11: Enter Your Nationality

Select your nationality exactly as it appears on your passport. For most UK users, this is British, but Tide supports the full international list. If you hold dual nationality, choose the one shown on your ID documents.

Unlike your address, phone number, and country of residence, your nationality is public. This is a legal requirement for all UK company directors and applies to every LTD in the country, so there's nothing to worry about.

![Tide, Step 11](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c10eb7c6681ff6a77c75a4e8cd6e9295ab3fc00a%2Ftide-13.png?alt=media)

## Step 12: Enter Your Security Information

Companies House requires three security questions. These are only used if you contact Companies House directly to verify your identity or update details manually. They're not used by Tide, SourceSheets, your bank, or Amazon.

Choose three questions with answers you'll remember and that won't change, such as birth town, mother's maiden name, father's first name, or passport number. Avoid anything that could change, like a current phone number.

These answers don't appear on the public record, aren't used by Tide for login or verification, and don't affect your bank account or Amazon account.

![Tide, Step 12](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f70255a28eb19a3f2023600ee0841acf9a5e8bee%2Ftide-14.png?alt=media)

## Step 13: Enter Your Trading Information

This screen asks for your Trading Name and Trading Address. Your Trading Name is pre-filled with your LTD name (e.g. Alex Cain LTD). Leave it as is, you don't need a separate trading name for Amazon.

Your Trading Address is where your Tide Mastercard is sent, business correspondence may arrive, and some suppliers may verify your business. It's not the Companies House public address (that comes next), but it affects how smoothly your setup goes.

**Option 1: Use your personal address.** The simplest option, and what most new sellers choose. Your Tide card is sent home, your trading location is set to your home address, and none of this is public or shown to Amazon customers.

**Option 2: Add a new address (virtual office).** Optional, and it keeps your home address private while looking more professional to suppliers and wholesalers, who sometimes prefer a commercial address over a residential one. We work with 1st Formations, who offer virtual office addresses, mail forwarding, director service addresses, and registered office addresses at a low annual fee. If you want this later, Tide makes it easy to update your trading address and Companies House records.

If you're starting out and want to keep things simple, use your personal address. If you want a more professional presentation and full privacy, use a virtual address. Neither affects your ability to sell on Amazon.

![Tide, Step 13](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0f4e99dca832dc3c754938e27d5122d29f3af463%2Ftide-15.png?alt=media)

## Step 14: Choose Your Registered Office Address

This is one of the most important screens in the formation process. Your Registered Office Address becomes visible on Companies House, appears on the public record, and receives legal notices and HMRC correspondence.

You do not need to pay Tide for a virtual office, you do not need a commercial address to start selling on Amazon, and you do not need to spend £15.83 + VAT a month. You can change your registered office later, cheaply and instantly. This step doesn't lock you into anything long-term.

**Option 1: Use your personal address (recommended for new sellers).** Most new sellers use their home address, or their trading address if it's different. This is completely legal, accepted by Amazon, HMRC, and Companies House, and free. It will make your address public on Companies House, which is normal for a new online business, and you can change it later.

**Option 2: Use your trading address.** For most new sellers this is the same as their personal address.

**Option 3: Add a new address (virtual office).** Skip this inside Tide, the price is too high. You'll see an offer for a virtual address at £15.83 + VAT a month through Tide's partner Hoxton Mix. You don't need this to form your company, and very few new sellers should pay this price.

For now, select "Use your personal address" or "Use your trading address." You can upgrade to a professional virtual office later once you're speaking to wholesalers or investing more heavily.

![Tide, Step 14](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-989175f33fb3518b3f4994cb9b37c9d56fcc6e6b%2Ftide-16.png?alt=media)

## Step 15: Choose Your Country of Registration

This must match the country of your Registered Office Address from the previous step. It doesn't affect where you can sell, your Amazon account, your VAT registration, your taxes, your supplier applications, or your eligibility to trade. It simply determines which Companies House jurisdiction your LTD belongs to.

![Tide, Step 15](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-625b56936d231e68cc79a3977da350fc7b45709a%2Ftide-17.png?alt=media)

## Step 16: Enter Your Business Category

Tide asks for your business category, essentially your business type or sector. This doesn't lock you into a niche or restrict what you can sell. It's used for risk classification, banking compliance, and basic Companies House compatibility.

Select **Online Retailer / Online Shop / Ecommerce**. This covers Amazon selling, wholesale, online arbitrage, retail arbitrage, marketplace selling, and general online trading, and it's the broad, safe, accurate choice for new sellers.

This choice doesn't affect tax, doesn't limit what you can sell, and doesn't affect Amazon approval. It's not the SIC code, that comes next, and it's purely for banking and compliance.

![Tide, Step 16](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b729f52997ec341b7837c4a1f77ce7021f14a768%2Ftide-18.png?alt=media)

## Step 17: Choose Your SIC Code

SIC codes are official classification codes used by Companies House and the UK Government to categorise your business activity. For Amazon FBA sellers, one code fits better than any other:

**47910: Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet**

This covers Amazon FBA, online retail, e-commerce, marketplace selling, dropshipping, OA/RA/wholesale selling, and non-store retail. It's the correct and recommended code for all Amazon sellers.

You don't need an additional SIC code as a new seller. This one code covers online retail, e-commerce, marketplace sales, wholesale, retail arbitrage, and private label, every Amazon model. Additional codes are only needed if you run multiple distinct business activities (consulting, software development, property management), which Amazon sellers don't. Leave "Add an additional SIC code" unchecked.

![Tide, Step 17](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-77d609c50870871c13fc8a2e5c88e19b0609f35a%2Ftide-19.png?alt=media)

## Step 18: Skip the "Be Online" Add-On

After your SIC code, Tide offers an optional add-on called "Be Online," bundling a website builder, domain name, three business email addresses, and hosting. It looks appealing, especially for brand-builders, but you don't need this to form your LTD or start selling on Amazon. Most new sellers should skip it.

For Amazon FBA, private label, OA, RA, or wholesale, you can run your entire business without a website. The add-on becomes £15 + VAT a month after the free period, it isn't needed for sourcing, selling, or accounting, and suppliers won't expect a brand-new LTD to have a full website on day one. You can get business email, domain, and hosting cheaper elsewhere, and SourceSheets is releasing an in-house solution for this at a lower cost. Even private label sellers usually build a website months later, once their brand is trading. Skip this add-on for now.

![Tide, Step 18](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-883fcb002e4a131b7871812565abf4e365a57a95%2Ftide-20.png?alt=media)

## Step 19: Review Your Tide Services

This page summarises the services added to your LTD formation.

**Company Registration** shows your £14.99 discounted formation fee, the SourceSheets discount, and Companies House filing. This is correct, this is what you're paying for.

**Admin Extra: 1 Month Free Trial** is automatically included and can't be unticked during formation. It's free for one month, then becomes £24.99 + VAT a month. Cancel it as soon as your LTD is formed and your Tide account is live, it takes under 30 seconds from the Tide app. We'll cover exactly how to cancel it later in the Blueprint. For now, just proceed, you won't be charged until the free period ends.

You can ignore the "Be Online" and "Card Reader" upsells, we already covered skipping those.

Review the order summary and click Continue. Your total should be £14.99, that's all you pay today. You'll only be charged for Admin Extra if you don't cancel it before the free trial ends, and we'll remind you to cancel it later in the Blueprint.

![Tide, Step 19](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-66d7fbff30c8ce4182370dbfcb1032ecffd60604%2Ftide-21.png?alt=media)

## Step 20: Review & Confirm Your Company Details

This screen shows a full summary of your personal information, company information, registered office address, trading address, SIC code, business activity, nationality, and country of residence. This is your last chance to check everything before your LTD is filed with Companies House.

Each field has a small pencil icon next to it. If anything is wrong, click the pencil to correct it before submitting.

After submitting: company name changes require a formal Companies House process, your registered office address can be changed easily, SIC codes can be updated in your first Confirmation Statement, and personal information updates must go through Companies House if incorrect. So check everything now.

Click Next to proceed to payment and submission. Your LTD formation fee is £14.99, and Tide files your company with Companies House automatically after payment. Most incorporations take 5 to 30 minutes, though some take a few hours depending on government processing speed. You'll receive your Certificate of Incorporation by email as soon as the company is formed.

![Tide, Step 20](https://3986765814-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FyUIGNjYBTQwrbsINKQV2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f37f3a7ce970a0d5c72ac54b0ec846a202e42f5e%2Ftide-22.png?alt=media)

## Step 21: What Happens After You Submit

**1. Immediate confirmation email from Tide.** This confirms your application has been sent to Companies House, your bank account is being processed, you'll be updated once the company is formed, and your Admin Extra trial is active (remember to cancel it later). This arrives within 1 to 3 minutes.

**2. Companies House processes your LTD formation.** Typically 5 minutes to 2 hours, occasionally up to 24 to 48 hours during busy periods. Tide submits your details electronically, the fastest submission method available.

**3. You receive your Certificate of Incorporation by email.** Once Companies House approves your LTD, you'll get the Certificate of Incorporation (the legal document proving your company exists), your Company Number (e.g. 15492310), confirmation that your LTD is live, and a link to your official Companies House listing. Amazon will later request this document during account verification.

> 📸 **Screenshot needed:** an example Certificate of Incorporation (redact anything you don't want shown publicly).

**4. Tide finishes setting up your business bank account.** As soon as your company is incorporated, Tide activates your business account, creates your sort code and account number, prepares your Tide Mastercard, and sends an "Account approved" notification. Your card typically arrives within 3 to 5 working days.

**5. Cancel Admin Extra.** Once your Tide account is live, open the Tide app and go to Profile → Products → Admin Extra → Cancel Subscription. This avoids the £24.99 + VAT monthly charge. We'll remind you again during the "Post-Setup Tasks" section.

> 📸 **Screenshot or short video needed:** cancelling Admin Extra in the Tide app, step by step.

**6. You now officially have an LTD company.** Your business has a legal identity, a Companies House listing, a business bank account, a registered office, a shareholder and director (you), and a proper foundation for your Amazon FBA business. This completes the business formation milestone.

## ⭐ Milestone Check

**LTD Company Formed: Step Completed**

Once your LTD is formed and your Certificate of Incorporation arrives, tick "Milestone Completed: LTD Company Created."

As a bonus for forming your LTD through our Tide link, you'll receive £20 cashback once you spend your first £100 through your new Tide account. Your business formation fee (£14.99) is effectively reimbursed, and you start your company with a small profit from day one, before you've sold a product.

This unlocks the next module in the Blueprint.